LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – With the University of Saint Mary volleyball team getting back into full swing this spring, they continued their recent hot streak defeating Friends University 3-0 Monday evening inside the Ryan Sports Center.

Saint Mary is 7-9 overall and 7-9 in the KCAC this season.

The Spires got hot early in the first set going up 11-8 after a kill from Kelsey Huggans. Saint Mary hung onto their lead at 13-11 before Jessica Malizzi and Hannah Vanriette each got two kills to go up 17-11. Saint Mary would not relinquish the lead and took the first set 25-20.

The Spires would hang onto a lead in the second set and had a 22-18 edge over the Falcons. Two attacking errors and a kill from Malizzi would give USM a 2-0 match lead heading into the third set. Friends came out strong in the third set however, going up 8-4. Saint Mary would claw back and eventually take a 17-16 lead after an error by Friends. Malizzi and Vanriette would later each notch kills for the Spires as they went up 20-17. A late push by the Falcons was held off in the end though, as Saint Mary took the final set 25-22.

Malizzi and Rylee Kenitzer each had 12 kills on the night, while Haydan Heuermann added 43 assists. Keishla Reyes had a team high 21 digs in the match.

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Saint Mary is scheduled to travel to York, Neb. for a doubleheader against the Panthers on Wednesday at 4 and 6 p.m.